davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

A small branch of the Presbyterian
church, known as the United Presbyter-
ians, nave long stood out against all in
strumental music in church, but the
world.mov so do the United Pres
byteriaDs. A year or two ago the general
assembly of that body repealed the rule
forbidding the use of instruments in the
worship of God, and at the recent assem-
bly, in Philadelphia, an attempt to disci-
pline the church in Keokuk, Iowa, for us
Ing an organ failed The vote stood two
to one, in favor of the organ as follows:
For the organ-ministers, 81 elders, 46 !;
total l07. Against the organ-ministers,
80; elders, "A; total, 81. This was sutfic
iently decisive. The keokuk church will
keep its organ, and the organ builders
generally are serene.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Senator Sherman's assertion that the
president has appointed SO many confed-
crates and confederate sympathizers to
the foreign service that every nation to
which these gentlemen are accredited may
fairly conclude that it was the rebel cause
that triumphed, and not the Union cause"
has considerably stirred up some of the
muRwump journals. The most effective
way of confuting the charge, of course,
would be to print the lists and show that
most of the foreign ministers and consus
sent abroad by this administration We're
on the Union side in the late unpleasant
ness. That, however, is what these jour
nails do not do. They find it easier and
more soothing to their feelings to stand off
and tell Mr. Sherman that he lies.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Hon. William f. Chandler is leading
candidate for the United States senat d.
ship from New Hampshire, but cannot Sc
cure the election without pretty severe
fight. His nomination by majority of
the republican members of the Legisla-
ture is regarded as certain but his cue.
mics, who are ex-senator Rollins's friends
declare that that is as far as Mr.. Chand-
Ter will go, and that if necessary to defeat
him they will make a combine" with the
democrats. We hope, however, that bet
ter counsels will prevail among them. If
Mr.. Chandler gets fair nomination from
the republican caucus, the minority should
yield, with as good grace as possible.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Professor Spencer +. Baird of the Smith
sonian Institutes lying at the point of
death at his residence in Washington. He
has been in poor health Tor some time,
and about three weeks ago he went to
Philadelphia to consult DR.. S. Weir
Mitchell, who told him that his life de.
pended upon entire rest and cessation of
labor. By his advice Professor Baird at
once started for the Adirondacks with his
daughter, and had been enjoying himself
quietly there till few days ago, when he
caught cold and became very much worse.
He was so weak that his removal to
Washington was accomplished with great
difficulty. He Immediately sank into a
state of unconsciousness and at last ac-
counts was so low that his physicians
despaired of his life.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
A Question for the DIPLOMATS.

The Springfield Union suggests that
"the arrival of fifty evicted Irish tenants
at Philadelphia, whose passage money
was paid by the British government, raises
a question for Secretary Bayard and Min
lister Phelps to tackle" This is a ques-
ton which has come up before, and which,
we think, will be answered in due time
by Congress in bill regulating foreign
immigration. These evicted tenants, ac-
cording to the Philadelphia newspapers,
are very old, and all are very poor, so that
most of them will at once become inmates
of our pauper institutions. This class of
immigrants we cannot welcome and we
ought not to welcome. The United States
have their own future to work out as a
pation, and they cannot afford to relieve
the older European nations of the most
perplexing factors in the problem of ma
tional existence. 1t would, of course, be
very nice for the European nations to use
America as sort of transatlantic Botany
bay and Fleet prison combined, where
the dangerous and useless classes OF their
population could be disposed OF by whole
sale. But that is not the mission of the
great Western republic. The American
people are engaged in building up the
greatest nation on the globe, and they
have no need of worthless materials. we
want neither European paupers nor Grim
inals. and the time is coming when this
fact will be proclaimed upon our statute
books. Meanwhile we think it would
be very good idea for Mr.
Bayard to instruct Minister Phelps
to inform the British government tha'
while we do not intend to send these poor
evicted tenants back to Ireland to starve
we would be very much obliged II Cousin
Bull would stop making consignments OF
this sort We will take all the well dis
posed, able-bodied Irish immigrants
whose passage England is willing to pay
for we can make them useful American
citizens; but we do not want the classes
that England finds burden on her OWL
hands. Our pauper and criminal classes
recruit themselves fast enough without
accessions from across the water.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

The National Opera company announces
its intention to omit henceforth the ballet
from all operate performances, Except
where it is necessary" Although this
proviso may cover a multitude of occa-
sions, it is something that leading OPP
cratic company should come to the point
of making so much of a concession to the
better sentiment Of the day. Opposition
to ndecencies on the stage is steadily
growing and has become so strong in
some of our cities as to have financial
weight with managers of amusements.
This is good sign.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
Collection of Health Statistics.

1t is said that an attempt will be made
to induce Congress at the next session to
provide for the collection of health Stats
tics from the large cities and towns in all
parts of the country. At the present re-
ports are collected at Washington regard
ing the health of foreign countries and
the prevalence of infectious diseases in
them : but no provision exists for the
compilation of similar statistics for this
country. We have to be sure, a national
board of health established a few years
since at Washington; but it has accom-
plished little owing to the uncertain
tenure of office of the members of the
board and the failure on the part o. the
House OF Representatives to make the
necessary appropriations for the work.
The suggestion is made that the medi-
cal boards attached to the war, navy and
interior departments could easily accom-
plish the statistical work proposed In this
direction, if so authorized by Congress.
In case the work should be entrusted to
these boards, the appropriations need not
be so large as though special commits
sion were required. Some additional
sources of information would be required
and wider range of investigation, but
the work in the main would be directly in
the line of the government medical boards.
We trust that by some method or other
these statistics will be collected. They
could hardly fail to be of great practical
value, certainly of more practical benefit
| than the statistics of the health centres of
population in other parts of the world.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Mr.. Frank Hatton, eX-postmaster gene
raj under President Arthur is quoted as
saving that to renominate Mr. Blaine
would be to throw away the chances of
republican success in the next campaign
He said;
81 am not opposed to Mr.. Blaine on per
sonal grounds. We have never had per-
sonal differences. do not think it would
be wise TO renominate him. He has been
defeated in two national conventions ana
once before the people. The party should
not exist for the sole purpose OF booming
one man. Thousands OF republicans
voted for Blaine under protest III 1854 VINO
would not vote for HIM again. we can
not use the old argument that the coun-
trv will go to the dogs, as the democrats
are in power. The stock argument OF FL
kius that Irish democrats Will vote Tor
Blaine is growing monotonous. Sensible
people are beginning TO want to know
what a president can do for this country
not what he will do for Ireland.
1.-THE republican party forced suffrage
ON the colored people OF the south. 1t
was the duty of that party TO protect
them. Mr.. Blaine, more than any other
man, is responsible Tor solid south.
When the torce bill was before Congress
the New York Tribune, Mr.. Blaine's per-
soual organ, advertised for man to asses
inale President Grant. AT the same time IL
is asserted that there was one man who
could stand between the tyrant Grant and
the liberties of the people. The next
week the editor of the Tribune came to
Washington as the guest of Speaker
Blaine. A few days later the force bill
was under consideration. Speaker Blaine
left his seat, went upon the floor OF the
house and Joined hands with the southern
democrats to defeat that measure. since
then there has been no show of II far cleo
N IA
mir Blaine then airayed himself against
an American policy to protect Americans
in America. The southern repuolicahs
understand this. They have never been
nor never will he for Mi, Blaine. Michi-
gan and Wisconsin are close states. l do
not believe Blaine could carry, either of
them against Cleveland. Yes, | do think
that with Sherman as a candidate both
has always been a favorite in Wisconsin.
He has always been strong with the Ger
mans, sherman could carry Indiana.
The sober second thought of the republi-
can party seems TO be crystalizing about
| Sherman.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

Sir John A. Macdonald, prime minister
of the Dominion of Canada, in recent in
tervew, stated that he is in favor of recip-
rocity on the plan of the treaty of 1854
an unrestricted interchange of the ma
tural products of the two countries, to be
specified in the agreement. Commercial
union he considers to be out of the ques-
ton, and he does not believe that it will
find more support in the United States
than in Canada. He thinks that it would
work injuriously to both countries, to
Canada because her manufacturers can
not compete with ours, 70 the United
States because it would open the way to q
surreptitious introduction of English man
ufactured goods. An assimilation OF
tariffs he does not regard as practicable
He admits that there are advocates of an
nexation among Canadians but no mar
he says could be elected to the Dominion
Parliament MS an anneXationist. Sir JOIN
wants exactly what he cannot get.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

THE WEEKLY FREE PRESS, cents pc
COPY, 30 cents for three months, Sl00 for six
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When a change of address is desired, both
the old and new addresses should be given.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

The report that President Cleveland
contemplates an extended tour across the
continent seems to be confirmed from re-
liable sources. Mr.. Cleveland will start
from st. Louis next fall for the Pacific
coast The reasons assigned are that the
president has never seen much of the
United States, and feels it to be the duty
OF man in his position to know more
geographically of the domain of which he
is chief magistrate. He thinks also that
it will be to his political advantage to take
trip of this sort and last, but not least,
his charming wife wants him to go. There
is weight in these reasons but what a
howl there would have been if any repub
lican president had planned three
months absence from the capital.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
A Strange Story of Real Life.

A strange and sad story is that of DR..
Charles Siedhof and his aged wife, of
Union Hill, n. j., who committed suicide
on Tuesday last, rather than go to the
poor house. Siedhof was at one time an
eminent professor in one of the German I'M
iversites. He ranked high with European
scholars. and when he came to this coun-
try it was with high encom!ums from the
press of Germany, mingled with regrets
at the loss of so eminent philologst.
He was accounted one OF the best Latin
scholars in America, beside being a
master Of English, French, German,
Greek, Spanish and Hebrew. Many of
his writings were in Latin, and it is SAID
that he could converse as fiuently in that
language as in German or English.
1t seems that he came to this country
to spend the remainder of his life in the
pursuit of horticulture, of which he was
passionately fond. He brought with him
a considerable amount of money, the saw
ings of his lfe's work in Germany, and
settled, first in Boston, afterward at Union
Hill in New Jersey. His achievements in
horticulture were no less remarkable than
in philology and chemistry. He devoted
most of his time to experiments. One of
his triumphs was the growing of the
largest blackberry ever exhibited in the
United States. Another was the demon
stration that tomatoes could be grown on
potato vines by grating. He became in
terested in grapevine culture, and intro
duced a number of European specimens
into this country, and also the American
vine into France.
But suddenly shadow came over him
as it SO often does in the tragedy OF
human life. He was seized with the alb
sorbing passion of speculation. He had
enough to keep him and his family III
comfort and even luxury so long as they
should live. But he was not satisfied. He
must get rich more rapidly. He made
reckless investments and the more he
lost, the more he seemed determined tC
risk and so his little fortune rapidly
melted away. Then came another dark
experience-a quarrel with his son, al
only child. The son left him, never to re
turn to his roof. And perhaps the sad
dest part of the whole story is that, al
though this son afterward became rich
when informed of the ptiful con
dition of his aged father and mother
he neglected to render any assistance
Poor Siedhof and his wife went from bao
to worse. They had nothing to live on
and when the poormaster came TO TAXI
them to the poor house, he asked
for an hours delay, during which the
aged couple took poison and died togeth
er. The mind can hardly picture sad
der closing of once happy and prosper
Gus life.
There is one lesson which comes hom'
strongly to all Americans from this lii,
tragedy. 1t is the lesson OF the folly o
speculation. But for this passion Siedho
might have spent a contented and peace
ful old age, with abundant means for al
his needs. But he wanted more; and tina
itching passion to get rich ruined him
Doubtless there are many cases lik
Siedhof's case that may not come befor
the public as his has, and that have, per
haps, less tragic an ending, but that ar
sad enough for all that. The admonitiol
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10
Congress and the Telegraph Com
panies.


panies.
The question has arisen, whether Con-
gress can regulate telegraph companies
as 1t has undertaken to regulate railroad
companies under the provisions of the
Interstate commerce law. That is to
say, are the telegraph companies com
mon Carriers ?" Recent decisions of the
Supreme Court would seem to leave no
doubt on this question. Telegraph COM
panies in fact occupy the same relations
to commerce as carriers of messages, that
railway companies do as carriers of goods
Like the railway companies they are in
struments of commerce. and as such are
properly subject to the regulating power
of Congress in respect to their Interstate
business. AS respects their business
within the limits of the separate States,
they are of course except from govern
ment regulation, as are the railroads.
These principles have been established by
several important decisions of the Supreme
Court. and most recently in the case Of
the Western Union Telegraph company
vs.. Plympton. This was a suit brought
by the sender Of telegram from place
in Indiana to place in Iowa. to recover
penalty under an Indiana statute. The
plaintiff complained that his telegram had
been put in the postofflce at the point of
destination instead of being delivered, and
that this was in violation of the Indiana
statute. The company defended on the
ground that the State could not constitu-
tonally regulate the method of delivery
in another State because such action
would be a regulation of Interstate COM
merce.
The plea OF the telegraph company was
sustained by the Supreme Court, which
held that the attempted regulation by the
State of Indiana OF the mode in which
messages should be delivered in other
States was beyond the power OF
| the State The decision plainly i'm
plies that the Supreme Court regards the
telegraph companies as common carriers.
About ten years ago Chief Justice Chase
| laid down the same opinion with refer
ence to the relations of telegraph COM
panies to commerce in the famous case of
the Pensacola Telegraph company VS. the
Western Union Telegraph company (96
U. s. In the great case of Gibbons VS..
! Ogden, Chief Justice Marshall LAID down
the doctrine that the power to regulate
commerce extends to every species of
commercial intercourse between the Unit
ed States and foreign nations, and among
the several States. These precedents
would seem to be sufficient to establish
the position that Congress has the right
to make regulations for the foreign and
! Interstate business of the telegraph COM
panies.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

President Cleveland was within two or
three hours ride of Malone when the flu
neral of Mr.. Wheeler took place yet he
sent note of regret and went fishing in
pay due respect to the memory of the de
ceased ex-vice- president. Mr.. Cleveland is
evidently not a man of high grade of
sensiblity to say nothing of tact. The
country would have thought the better of
him if had given the day to such duty, if
he had to make up for it by weeks ex-
ira fishing.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

A paper on the so-called "New theology"
read by Rev. Thomas p. Field, ID. D., of
Amherst before the Ministerial associa-
ton of which he is a member, and since
printed in the Andover RGUieD, is attract
ing no little attention. DR.. Field is an
esteemed and venerable Congregational
clergyman who was for many years, and
up to almost the present time, connected
with Amherst college as professor and
pastor of the College church. In his
paper he undertakes to show that the doc
trlne of future probation is necessary
corollary from the doctrine that there can
be no salvation without faith in Christ (;
that is, unless it be held that all heather
are lost. But no one at the present day
holds that doctrine. The other alterna-
tive is that the heather may be saved by
the light of nature, or by doing the best
they know how. But that, he shows, Is con
trary to the orthodox doctrine of all ages
and all Christian lands. According to
DR.. Fields exhaustive presentation of su-
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

1t is thought worthy of especial men
tion that Mr.. Redington of Rutland has
given ten dollars to the Grant monument
fund. In forwarding his contribution
Mr.. Redington wrote; 1.-The great COM
mander of our civil war deserves this
recognition at the hands of the American
people. Let us fight it out on this line if
it takes all summer or till democrat is
elected governor of Vermont" The Rut-
land postmaster will have to contribute
with equal muniicence to the campaign
fund of the democratic State committee il
the result he mentions last is to be ac-
complished.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

The Troy Press attempts to make a
little party capital, by attributing the Sc
clusou of the later years of the lie of
Vice President Wheeler to the pangH of
conscience. He withdrew himself, the
Press asserts, from the gaze of men, be-
cause he realized that he had held an
office to which he was not elected This
is simple nonsense. Mr.. Wheeler's title
to the vice presidency was as legal as that
of any other man who ever held the office.
If the votes cast for Hayes and Wheeler
had been counted there would have been
no chance to raise the question OF their
election. The question, when raised, was
referred to a legally constituted tribunal,
and by it decided in accordance with law,
and with equity. Mr. Wheeler was not
only a highly conscientious man. but an
able lawyer. He was competent to eX-
anime and determine the legal points in
volved. He did not desire the flee of
vice-president, and cared nothing for it
when it came to him. He accepted it ~ a
duty: but he never would have accepted
it, II he had had the slightest doubt of the
absolute legality OF his title to it. He
never expressed, and it is fair to presume
never felt, shadow of doubt in regard tc
it,, No, it was kidney disease and no,
conscience that clouded Mr.. Wheel er's
later years.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

The Concord, Mass, Summer School of
Philosophy is getting down from its high
horse of metaphysics to discuss subjects
in which people of average culture are
interested. Among the topics to be pre-
sented at the coming session of the school,
are Social Science in Plato and Aristo-
tle," "Shakespeare's Poetry" "Aris-
tophanes and the Elizabethan Drama"
and "Browning's Dramatic Genius" Lit
erature seems to be taking the place of
philosophy.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

1t seems that "three per cent" beer may
be as bad an explosive as dynamite and
more insidious. A Fall River, Mass
man was rolling barrel of this beverage
into saloon, when 1t exploded, dashing
the man against the ceiling and breaking
his neck. The report of the explosion
was heard for half mile. In this case
the destruction of the man was sudden
but many a man is destroyed just as
surely by the prolonged explosion of al
cohol, strychnine, old boots and the other
ingredients of strong beer, inside of him
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

A Virginia correspondent of the New
York Tribune says that there was consid-
cradle breaking up of the color line in the
recent Virginia local elections. More of
the colored men voted the democratic
ticket than ever before, and the republi-
cans receivad important accessions of
white mems votes. Ifa fair count here
we'll
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-10

A man died in New York city on Friday
from the effects of a surgical operation to
remove an orange seed which he had
swallowed. The doctors say that the
seed would have killed him if the knife
hadn't. There is a curious little pocket
opening from the human intestines, known
as this "vermiform appendage." The use
of the appendage is not known but if a
seed or other indigestible substance be-
comes lodged in it, it is apt to prove fatal.
The moral of caution about swallowing
the seeds of fruit, is obvious.